BULL HANDED TORQUAY CLASH

3 April 2014

George Pitts

Essex referee Michael Bull will be the referee in-charge of our visit to Torquay United, as Russ Wilcox’s men look to secure their promotion push with six games left.

Out of his 20 games this season, Bull has given out 57 yellows and two reds. His last game came at the end of March as Northampton hosted Wimbledon. The match finished 2-2 and the Dons’ Jake Midson was shown a red card for handling inside the box.

Bull’s other red card came earlier in the season as Oxford left Burton 2-0 winners in September. Ian Sharps of Burton was dismissed in the first-half after clashing with ex-Reading forward Dave Kitson.

Bull, from Chelmsford, was fully promoted to the Football League at the end of last term after good displays in the Conference. In that campaign he oversaw 19 matches, brandishing seven reds and 61 yellows.

His first Football League appearance came in the 2012/13 season, taking charge of Wycombe’s 4-0 win over York and it will be his first time refereeing both the Iron and the Gulls.

Bull has refereed across the FL this year, as well as the FA Cup and JP Trophy.

His promotion to professional football’s top four divisions came 21 years after he first picked up the whistle in November 1992 to provide his youth side with a recognised referee.

Kevin Johnson and Mark Pottage will be running Bull’s lines and Justin Amey will be his fourth official.